Safety drain

ABSTRACT

Safety devices comprising axially elongated fittings having a plurality of relatively small channels extending therethrough are placed in the drain entry of drains for fluid containers such as swimming pools, wading pools, spas and the like to reduce or eliminate body entrapment, hair entanglement and the like.

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/390,460entitled Safety Drain filed Mar. 17, 2003, now abandoned.

[0002] This invention relates to drain systems. More particularly, itrelates to safety devices for drains for fluid containers such asswimming pools, wading pools, spas and the like which reduce oreliminate entrapment, hair entanglement and the like in such drainsystems.

[0003] The popularity of therapeutic and recreational water pools suchas swimming pools, wading pools, spas, hot tubs, whirlpool baths, etc.,has been plagued by accidental user entrapment by submerged drains.Since body and hair entrapment in drain and/or re-circulation systemscan cause serious physical injuries and/or death, various drain systemshave been designed to minimize drain entrapment hazards. Grated draincovers with grate openings designed to prevent entry or passagetherethrough of most human body parts can somewhat minimize thelikelihood of drain entrapment, particularly when used with multiplespaced-apart drain entries connecting to a common drain line toeffectively eliminate entrapment caused by substantially blocking asingle drain entry. However, when hair is permitted to extend through agrate opening and into a line of flowing water, the hair tends to becomeentangled on the downstream side of the grate. Thus, a person whose hairis permitted to pass through a drain grate into the drain line canbecome physically trapped without blocking the drain opening. Since suchhair entanglement does not necessarily substantially impede water flowthough the entrapping drain, spaced-apart drain openings and othersystems relying on pressure or flow variations in the affected draincannot detect or prevent hair entrapment and cannot provide means forreleasing the trapped victim.

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, hair entanglement andassociated bodily entrapment in water pool drain systems is effectivelyprevented by providing the drain entry with an elongated fitting whichdivides the drain entry into a plurality of smaller inlets sized andshaped to prevent entry of large objects. Each of the smaller inletscommunicates directly with a channel of substantially the samecross-sectional size and shape having a downstream length ofapproximately sixteen (16) inches or more (approximately 40 cm. ormore). The elongated fitting thus provides a plurality of elongatedchannels of relatively small diameter extending downstream from thedrain entry grate which prevent hair which enters the drain frombecoming entangled downstream from the drain entry grate. Other featuresand advantages of the invention will become more readily understood fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with the appendedclaims and attached drawing in which:

[0005]FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a pooldrain installation employing safety drain fittings in accordance withone embodiment of the invention;

[0006]FIG. 1A is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section,of the drain installation of FIG. 1 taken through line 1A-1A;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the safety drain fitting shownpartially in section FIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through line 3-3 ofthe safety drain fitting shown in FIG. 2;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a safetydrain fitting of the invention;

[0010]FIG. 5 is an elevational view, partially in section, of analternative drain installation employing the principles of theinvention;

[0011]FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the safetydrain fitting illustrated in the drain installation of FIG. 5;

[0012]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially insection, of an alternative embodiment of the safety drain fittingillustrated in FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofthe safety drain fitting illustrated in FIG. 4; and

[0014]FIG. 8A is a fragmentary sectional view taken through line 8A-8Aof the safety fitting of FIG. 8.

[0015] The drawing is incorporated into and forms part of the disclosureof this specification to illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Throughout the several views of drawing like referencenumerals designate corresponding elements. The figures are not to scalebut are intended to disclose the inventive concepts by illustration. Itwill be recognized that the principles of the invention may be utilizedand embodied in many and various forms. In order to demonstrate theseprinciples, the invention is described herein by reference to specificpreferred embodiments. The invention, however, is not limited to theforms illustrated and described. Furthermore, the invention is notlimited to use in connection with water pools but may find utility inother similar applications involving flow of fluids from a containerinto an outlet line through a drain or the like.

[0016] For purposes of this disclosure, the term “drain” is used to meanany method, system or apparatus by which a fluid is moved from acontainer to an outlet line across a pressure gradient. Thus “drain” maybe used to refer to gravity systems wherein fluid flows from a containerinto an outlet by gravity as well as systems wherein a pressure gradientis induced by increasing the relative pressure in the container orreducing the relative pressure in the outlet line with a pump or thelike.

[0017] When fluid flows from a container into an outlet drain a pressuredifferential is developed at the drain entry. When the fluid is arelatively dense liquid such as water, the total pressure exerted on abody blocking the drain is proportional to the cross-sectional area ofthe drain and thus can be quite substantial. Similarly, where a suctionpump is used to withdraw fluid from the container, or where thecontainer is itself pressurized, a relatively large pressuredifferential can exist across the outlet drain opening.

[0018] Many water pools, such as swimming pools, wading pools, spas,etc., employ a drain system in which the water is withdrawn at or nearthe bottom of the pool for re-circulation and/or removal. Because of thepressure differential across the drain inlet, a body which blocks thedrain inlet can become trapped at the drain inlet, particularly where asuction pump or the like is employed to withdraw the water. Five (5)potentially serious hazards are commonly associated with such drains:

[0019] (i) Evisceration/disembowelment which can occur when negativepressure is applied directly to the intestines of the victim through anunprotected drain inlet.

[0020] (ii) Body suction entrapment which can occur when negativepressure is applied to a large portion of the victim's body or largelimbs, sealing the body against the drain inlet and resulting inentrapment against the drain inlet.

[0021] (iii) Mechanical entrapment which can occur when a limb, such asa finger or toe, is caught in a small opening of a drain inlet or draincover grate.

[0022] (iv) Limb entrapment which can occur when a limb is inserted intoan opening of a drain inlet, resulting in mechanical entrapment orswelling. This most frequently occurs when a drain cover or grate isinadvertently removed or otherwise missing.

[0023] (v) Hair entanglement which occurs when long hair becomessnagged, knotted or entangled with a drain cover grate or the like.Heretofore, all five major entrapment hazards could not be addressedwith a single solution.

[0024] In order to minimize the likelihood of body suction entrapment,it has become common practice to employ at least two spaced-apart draininlets communicating with a common drain line. The drain inlets arepreferably placed at locations separated by a distance sufficient topreclude a human body from blocking both inlets simultaneously. Thus, ifa body inadvertently blocks flow through one of the inlets, flow isdiverted to the other inlet and the pressure differential across theblocked drain inlet, depending on the mass, flow rate, etc., of thewater in the conduit connecting the blocked drain inlet to the commondrain line, is rapidly substantially reduced. The body thus is nottrapped against the blocked inlet by a large pressure differential.

[0025]FIG. 1 illustrates a spaced-apart drain inlet system in which thebottom 10 of a container such as a pool or the like has a first draininlet 11 and a second drain inlet 12 communicating with a common drainline 13. It will be appreciated that in the drain arrangement of FIG. 1,if either first drain inlet 11 or second drain inlet 12 is blocked, flowthrough the other drain inlet will continue; the pressure differentialacross the blocked drain inlet will be minimized; and the blocking bodywill not be trapped against the drain inlet by a large pressuredifferential. It will be recognized, however, that spaced-apart draininlets may still present evisceration/disembowelment hazards if theconduit connecting the spaced-apart drain inlets contains a large massof moving liquid. Even though blocking of one drain inlet does not blockflow through the entire system, the inertia of a large mass of movingwater abruptly stopped by blockage of a drain inlet can temporarilycreate a large pressure differential (suction) at the blocked draininlet. Accordingly, the spaced-apart drain inlets are usually separatedby a distance of only a few feet and the size of interconnecting conduitlimited so that pressure can be rapidly equalized across the blockeddrain inlet without overcoming a large suction surge caused by theinertia of a large mass of moving water in the conduit connecting theblocked inlet to the common drain line.

[0026] To prevent entry of large bodies into the drain system, draininlets are ordinarily protected by a grate. In order to minimizemechanical entrapment of human body parts in grates used in such draininlets, grates used for swimming pools, etc., are ordinarily designed tocomply with applicable regulations and standards. Most currentregulations applicable to swimming pools require that the grate openingsbe sized and shaped so that a dowel of predetermined diameter cannotpass through the grate. The diameter of the dowel used for thismeasurement is determined by ASTM or ASME standards and is usuallythree-eighths inch or one-half inch. Accordingly, the size and shape ofsuch grate openings described hereinafter as one-half inch is intendedto describe the current applicable regulations or standards prescribedby ASTM or ASME. While such grates affectively prevent most mechanicalentrapment hazards, such grates are frequently accidentally orinadvertently removed or not replaced after maintenance, cleaning or thelike. In such instances, the drain inlet with a missing grate presents aserious mechanical entrapment hazard.

[0027] Since conventional grates are designed to prevent passage of asolid body which has a diameter greater than about one-half inch, longhair can easily be drawn into the drain system through conventionalgrates. Most such conventional grates have an axial length (thickness)in the direction of water flow of less than about one-half inch. Thus,long hair passing through the grate can (and does) often extend throughthe grate and into the drain line. Flowing water passing over the hairtends to entangle the hair downstream from the grate. The hair thusbecomes knotted and tied to the grate and the body to which the hair isattached (such as a person's head) becomes attached to the grate withoutblocking water flow. Accordingly, such catastrophic entrapment is notprecluded by spaced-apart drain inlets or other systems which react topressure or flow variations in the drain system.

[0028] In accordance with the present invention, the conventional grateis replaced by (or used in connection with) a drain safety fitting 15which comprises an axially elongated body having an inlet face 16 and anoutlet face 18 with a plurality of channels 17 extending axially throughthe body from the inlet face 16 to the outlet face 18. As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, the safety fitting 15 is positioned within a drain conduit 14(the entry end of which defines the drain inlet) and has across-sectional size and shape coextensive with the cross-sectionalentry opening of the drain inlets 11, 12. The inlet face 16 thus formsthe drain entry grate (or may be fitted directly downstream from aconventional drain entry grate) and serves to prevent the passage oflarge solid bodies into the drain system.

[0029] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, a plurality of channels 17extends axially through the body of the safety fitting 15 from the inletface 16 to the outlet face 18. In the preferred embodiment, the axiallength of the safety fitting 15 from the inlet face 16 to the outletface 18 is approximately sixteen (16) inches and the channel openings inthe inlet face 16 are shaped to prevent the passage of a one-half inchdowel therethrough (or a three-eights inch diameter dowel, depending onthe applicable ASTM, ASME or other standards or regulations).Accordingly, the inlet face 16 of safety fitting 15 may provide thefunction of a drain grate. However, since the axial length of thechannels 17 is approximately sixteen (16) inches or more, hair drawninto each channel 17 is confined therein and cannot become entangledwith hair in adjacent channels. Therefore, hair passing through thedrain grate cannot become entangled on the downstream side of the draingrate unless the hair is substantially longer than the axial length ofchannels 17.

[0030] It will be recognized that installation of axially elongatedsafety fittings 15 which extend a substantial distance below the bottomof a pool, etc., can become expensive and tedious when they connect witha common drain line positioned a distance substantially below the bottomof a pool. Much of the difficulty of such installations can be overcomeby using the drain installation arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 and1A.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the spaced-apart drain conduits 14 extendvertically from the bottom 10 of the pool. If the axial length of thesafety fitting 15 is sixteen (16) inches, the length of each drainconduit 14 must be at least sixteen (16) inches. To avoid burying thecommon drain line 13 at an unnecessary depth, drain conduits 14 are eachjoined to a reducing elbow 19 which is connected to a centrallypositioned riser 20 through lines 21 and tee 22. The riser 20 isconnected to common drain line 13 at a point substantially equidistantfrom first and second drain inlets 11, 12 using conduits ofsubstantially matching size and length. Accordingly, substantially equalpressure differentials will be developed across first and second draininlets 11, 12. However, if one drain inlet is blocked, flow willcontinue through the other. Since flow through the unblocked inlet isunrestricted, the pressure differential across the blocked inlet israpidly reduced, thereby avoiding entrapment of a body blocking only oneof the drain inlets 11, 12. In this arrangement, only the areaimmediately below the drain inlets 11, 12 need be excavated to permitconnection to a common drain line 13 placed at a relatively shallowdepth.

[0032] Substantially elongated safety fittings 15 may also be employedin the alternative arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In thisarrangement the drain conduits 14 are positioned to incline from thebottom 10 of the container toward a common drain line 13. By placing thedrain conduits 14 in an inclined position, the vertical depth of thecommon drain line 13 may be reduced without reducing the axial length ofthe safety fittings 15. To accommodate placement of the safety fitting15 in the inclined drain lines 14, the inlet face 16 may, of course, beinclined with respect to the axial length of the safety fittings 15 sothat the inlet face 16 is positioned substantially at the inlet endopening of drain conduits 14. To maintain the desired axial length ofeach of the channels 17, the outlet face 18 should be similarly inclinedas illustrated in FIG. 6. Use of inclined drain conduits 14 asillustrated in FIG. 5 also reduces the length of conduit 14 connectingthe drain inlet to the common drain line 13. Since the length of drainline 14 is reduced, and part of its volume is occupied by elongatedsafety fitting 15, the mass of water contained in drain line 14 issubstantially reduced, thus minimizing the inertia suction caused byabrupt blockage of the drain inlet.

[0033] It should be recognized that the cross-sectional geometry of theinlet end openings of the channels 17 in the safety fitting 15 is notlimited to any particular configuration. The major requirement is onlythat each opening will not permit entry of a dowel of the diameterprescribed by applicable regulations and standards for drain grates.Accordingly, various configurations of the inlet openings in conduits 17may be utilized, depending on the method of manufacture, materials used,etc. For example, the inlet face 16 may take the configuration of aconventional concentric drain grate as shown in FIG. 4. In thisembodiment, each channel 17 (and its associated inlet end opening) takesthe shape of a segmented arc so that the channels 17 are arranged assegments of concentric circles. Alternatively, the inlet end openingscan be in the form of closely spaced substantially rectangular orcircular (including such geometries as pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.)openings. So long as the length of each channel 17 extending through theelongated body of the safety fitting 15 is approximately sixteen (16)inches and the inlet opening of each channel 17 is shaped to prevententry of an object which is substantially circular in cross-section andhas a cross-sectional dimension of one-half inch, the safety fitting 15will provide the grate structure required for pool drains and prevententanglement of hair and the like extending downstream from the entryface of the grate.

[0034] Body suction entrapment occurs when the victim's body (or a largelimb) forms a seal against and therefore obstructs essentially all flowthrough a drain inlet. The inlet face 16 of the fitting 15 of theinvention, however, may be configured to reduce the likelihood ofcomplete blockage and thus reduce the likelihood of body suctionentrapment. For example, the inlet face 16 of the safety fitting 15 maybe contoured so that the inlet face is non-planar. A contoured inletface is less likely to be blocked by a human body or body part becauseit is difficult to form a complete seal against a contoured surface. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the inlet face 16 of the safety fitting 15 may bedome-shaped (substantially hemispherical) or otherwise configured andpositioned within the drain inlet 11, 12 so that all or a portion of theinlet face 16 projects above the floor surface of the bottom 10 of thepool or other container. When so configured and positioned, the inletsto channels 17 are somewhat inclined with respect to the surface ofbottom 10 and positioned at various elevations with respect to thesurface of bottom 10. Accordingly, complete simultaneous blockagesufficient to seal all inlets to channels 17 is less likely to occur,reducing the likelihood of body suction entrapment.

[0035] Transverse open-faced grooves 30 or the like as shown in FIG. 8and FIG. 8A may also be formed in the inlet face 16 to form a contouredsurface. Grooves 30 are preferably at least as deep as they are wide andpreferably extend from peripheral edge to peripheral edge (notnecessarily the full diameter) of the inlet face 16. Grooves 30 alsoconnect the inlet orifices of at least two channels 17. Such grooves 30thus provide lateral paths for fluid flow from various locationsadjacent the periphery of the inlet face 16 which are below the majorplane of the surface of inlet face 16. Such lateral paths thus preventtotal blockage and sealing of the entire drain inlet unless the fullarea of the inlet face 16 is completely obstructed.

[0036] It should be noted that lateral grooves 30 may be formed in theinlet face of safety fitting 15 regardless of the configuration or shapeof the inlets to channels 17 and regardless of whether the inlet face 16is flat, domed or any other configuration. Furthermore, if theperipheral edge of safety fitting 15 is slightly elevated with respectto the floor surface of bottom 10, the grooves 30 extending to theperipheral edge provide a lateral or side entry path, thereby furtherreducing the likelihood that a body can form a seal over the entireinlet face 16.

[0037] Various other surface shapes may be utilized to form contouredsurfaces. For example, the inlet face 16 may have a central domesurrounded by a circular depression or may have asymmetrical depressionsand/or raised portions. Accordingly, for purposes of this disclosure theterm “contoured surface” means any surface which is not substantiallyplanar.

[0038] Various methods and materials may be used to fabricate the safetyfittings of the invention. For example, the elongated body of thefitting 15 may be machined from a unitary piece of metal, plastic stockor other material. It may be formed as a unitary piece (or multiplefitted pieces) by molding or extrusion. Where the elongated body isformed by extrusion, the walls of the individual channels 17 may berelatively thin without degrading structural integrity when the channels17 define closely packed geometric shapes such as the hexagonal shapesshown in FIG. 2. Obviously, other geometric shapes may be used asdesired.

[0039] It should be recognized that the conduits 14 in which the safetydrain fittings 15 are placed may be of any desired cross-sectionalgeometry and may be uniquely designed to accept variously shaped safetydrain fittings. Since the safety drain fittings 15 are intended to bepositioned at the drain entry, conduits 14 may be designed to accept andsupport the safety fittings 15 so that the inlet face 16 is submerged.For example, although the drain inlets 11, 12 are illustrated assubstantially coplanar with the bottom 10 of the container. It will berecognized, however, that the drain inlets (and thus the inlet face 16of fitting 15) need not be positioned horizontally or at the bottom ofthe container. The drain inlet may, for example, be aligned vertically(or at any other orientation) and positioned in a wall, step or othersubmerged surface of the container. Regardless of the orientation of thesubmerged drain inlet, the safety fitting 15 performs the function of aconventional grate and the need for conventional grates is eliminated.As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the inlet face may be in a plane normal to thecentral axis of the axially elongated body. Alternatively, where theaxially elongated body is positioned in a conduit 14 which is inclinedwith respect to the bottom 10 of the container as shown in FIGS. 5-6,the inlet face 16 may be inclined with respect to the central axis ofthe elongated body so that the inlet face 16 lies in a planesubstantially parallel with the plane of the bottom of the container. Ineither configuration, the inlet face 16 of the fitting 15 may be domed,grooved or otherwise contoured as described above to reduce thelikelihood of body suction entrapment and may be elevated above (orbelow) the supporting wall of the container to reduce the likelihood ofa single body sealing the entire entry to the drain.

[0040] Since the safety fitting 15 is approximately sixteen (16) incheslong, it is unlikely that the safety fitting can be accidentallyremoved. Furthermore, since the channels 17 are approximately sixteeninches long, mechanical entrapment resulting from catching a finger ortoe in the inlet face is highly unlikely. Accordingly, use of the safetyfitting of the invention virtually eliminates the likelihood of eithertype of mechanical entrapment as well as hair entanglement.

[0041] It should be recognized that safety fitting 15 need not be fittedwithin a separate drain conduit 14 but may itself form the drain conduit14. For example, safety fitting 15 may be extruded (or otherwise formed)as a unitary body which is permanently secured in the wall or bottom ofa pool or the like so that the inlet face 16 forms and defines the draininlet. The opposite end of the safety fitting 15 may then be joineddirectly to conduit 14 so that outlet face 18 is positioned within thedrain conduit 14. In this arrangement, the safety fitting 15 ispermanently secured to the supporting wall and forms part of the drainconduit 14. Accordingly, since the fitting 15 is permanently mounted inthe container wall or bottom and inlet face 16 defines the drain inletand forms the drain inlet grate, the submerged drain inlet grate cannever be accidentally or inadvertently removed to expose an ungrateddrain opening.

[0042] From the foregoing it will be recognized that the principles ofthe invention may be employed to completely eliminate the possibility ofhair entanglement and limb entrapment. The likelihood of mechanicalentrapment is also minimized by appropriate selection of inlet orificesize and configuration. Since contoured surfaces such as lateralopen-faced grooves greatly reduce the likelihood of sealing the entireface of a drain inlet and the safety fitting itself reduces the mass ofliquid forming suction inertia when one of a pair of spaced-apart draininlets is blocked, the likelihood of evisceration resulting from drainblockage is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the safety fitting of theinvention and drain installations disclosed may be readily used toretrofit existing pools without major construction expense.

[0043] The size and open areas of the inlet face 16 of the safetyfittings 15 will obviously affect rates of flow through the safetyfittings and pressure differentials thereacross. However, the preferredsize, orientation and open area of each safety fitting may be readilycalculated to be compatible with flow lines, pump capacities and othersystem variables using known standard fluid dynamics and engineeringprinciples.

[0044] While the invention is primarily designed to provide means forpreventing hair entanglement and other entrapment in drains for waterpools and the like, it will be apparent from the foregoing that theprinciples of the invention may find utility in other applications. Itis to be understood, therefore, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth inthe foregoing description together with details of the structure andfunction of the invention, this disclosure is to be consideredillustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made indetail, especially in matters of shape, size, arrangement andcombination of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A drain for a fluid container comprising: (a) afirst tubular conduit having an inlet end opening and an outlet with theinlet end opening adapted to drain fluid from a fluid container and theoutlet communicating with a drain line; (b) a first safety fittingcomprising an axially elongated body having an inlet face and an outletface positioned within said first conduit with said inlet facesubstantially defining the inlet end opening of said first tubularconduit; and (c) a plurality of channels extending through said axiallyelongated body, each channel having an entrance opening in said inletface and an outlet in said outlet face, wherein: (i) the length of eachchannel extending through said axially elongated body is at leastapproximately sixteen inches; and (ii) the entrance opening of eachchannel is shaped to prevent the entry of an object which issubstantially circular in cross-section and has a cross-sectionaldimension of approximately one-half inch.
 2. A drain as defined in claim1 including: (a) a second tubular conduit having an inlet end openingand an outlet with the inlet end opening adapted to drain fluid fromsaid fluid container at a location spaced from the inlet end opening ofsaid first tubular conduit and the outlet communicating with said drainline; (b) a second safety fitting comprising an axially elongated bodyhaving an inlet face and an outlet face positioned within said secondconduit with said inlet face substantially defining the inlet endopening of said second tubular conduit; and (c) a plurality of channelsextending through said axially elongated body, each channel having anentrance opening in said inlet face and an outlet in said outlet face,wherein: (i) the length of each channel extending through said axiallyelongated body is at least approximately sixteen inches; and (ii) theentrance opening of each channel is shaped to prevent the entry of anobject which is substantially circular in cross-section and has across-sectional dimension of approximately one-half inch.
 3. A drain asdefined in claim 2 wherein: (a) said first tubular conduit and saidsecond tubular conduit each extend substantially vertically from thebottom of said fluid container; (b) the outlet ends of said first andsecond tubular conduits communicate with said drain line; and (c) saiddrain line is positioned intermediate the bottom of said fluid containerand the outlet ends of said first and second conduits and substantiallyequidistant from the inlet end opening of said first tubular conduit andthe inlet end opening of said second tubular conduit.
 4. A drain asdefined in claim 2 wherein: (a) said first tubular conduit and saidsecond tubular conduit extend from the bottom of said fluid container atan angle inclined with respect to the bottom of said fluid container;(b) the outlet ends of said first and second tubular conduitscommunicate with said drain line; and (c) said drain line is positionedsubstantially equidistant from the inlet end opening of said firsttubular conduit and the inlet end opening of said second tubularconduit.
 5. A safety fitting for a drain which includes a tubularconduit with an inlet end opening defining the drain inlet comprising:(a) an axially elongated body having an inlet face and an outlet face;(b) a plurality of inlet openings in said inlet face, each said inletopening shaped to prevent entry of an object which has a cross-sectionaldiameter of approximately one-half inch; (c) a plurality of outletopenings in said outlet face; and (d) a plurality of individual channelsextending through said elongated body, each channel having an axiallength of approximately sixteen inches and connecting one of said inletopenings in said inlet face with an outlet opening in said outlet face.6. A safety fitting as defined in claim 5 wherein said inlet openingsare in the shape of arcs arranged to form concentric circles in saidinlet face.
 7. A safety fitting as defined in claim 5 wherein said inletopenings form substantially circular orifices in said inlet face.
 8. Asafety fitting as defined in claim 5 wherein said inlet face is inclinedwith respect to the central axis of said axially elongated body.
 9. Asafety fitting as defined in claim 5 wherein said inlet face lies in aplane substantially normal to the central axis of said axially elongatedbody.
 10. A safety fitting as defined in claim 5 wherein said inlet facedefines a contoured surface.
 11. A safety fitting as defined in claim 5wherein said axially elongated body is positioned within the inlet endof a tubular conduit which defines a drain inlet so that said inlet faceis substantially coextensive with said drain inlet.
 12. A drain for afluid container including a first drain safety fitting having an inletend and an outlet end with the inlet end defining a drain inlet faceadapted to drain fluid from the fluid container and the outlet endcommunicating with a drain line, said first drain safety fittingcomprising: (a) an axially elongated body having an inlet face and anoutlet face; and (b) a plurality of channels extending through saidaxially elongated body, each channel having an entrance opening in saidinlet face and an outlet in said outlet face, wherein: (i) the length ofeach channel extending through said axially elongated body is at leastapproximately sixteen inches; and (ii) the entrance opening of eachchannel is shaped to prevent entry of an object which is substantiallycircular in cross-section and has a cross-sectional dimension ofapproximately one-half inch.
 13. A drain as defined in claim 12 whereinsaid inlet face is substantially co-planar with the bottom of said fluidcontainer.
 14. A drain as defined in claim 12 wherein said inlet face isnot coplanar with the bottom of said fluid container.
 15. A drain asdefined in claim 12 wherein said inlet face is substantiallyhemispherical.
 16. A drain as defined in claim 14 wherein at least partof said inlet face extends above the plane of the bottom surface of saidfluid container.
 17. A drain as defined in claim 12 wherein said inletface defines a contoured surface.
 18. A drain as defined in claim 12including at least one open-faced groove in said inlet face extendingbetween and connecting the entrance openings of at least two of saidchannels.
 19. A drain as defined in claim 18 wherein said open-facedgroove extends from at least one of said channels to a location on theperiphery of said inlet face.
 20. A drain as defined in claim 12including a second drain safety fitting having an inlet end and anoutlet end with the inlet end defining a drain inlet face spaced-apartfrom the drain inlet face of said first safety drain fitting adapted todrain fluid from the fluid container and the outlet end communicatingwith said drain line, said second drain safety fitting comprising: (a)an axially elongated body having an inlet face and an outlet face; and(b) a plurality of channels extending through said axially elongatedbody, each channel having an entrance opening in said inlet face and anoutlet in said outlet face, wherein: (iii) the length of each channelextending through said axially elongated body is at least approximatelysixteen inches; and (iv) the entrance opening of each channel is shapedto prevent the entry of an object which is substantially circular incross-section and has a cross-sectional dimension of approximatelyone-half inch.
 21. A drain as defined in claim 20 wherein: (a) saidfirst drain safety fitting and said second drain safety fitting eachextend substantially vertically from the bottom of said fluid container;(b) the outlet ends of said first and second tubular conduitscommunicate with a common drain line; and (c) said common drain line ispositioned intermediate the bottom of said fluid container and theoutlet ends of said first and second drain safety fittings and issubstantially equidistant from the inlet end of said first drain safetyfitting and the inlet end of said second drain safety fitting.
 22. Adrain as defined in claim 20 wherein: (a) said first drain safetyfitting and said second drain safety fitting extend from the bottom ofsaid fluid container at an angle inclined with respect to the bottom ofsaid fluid container; (b) the outlet ends of said first and secondsafety drain fitting communicate with a common drain line; and (c) saidcommon drain line is positioned substantially equidistant from the inletend opening of said first safety drain fitting and the inlet end openingof said second safety drain fitting.
 23. A safety fitting for a draincomprising: (a) an axially elongated body which defines a tubularconduit having an inlet face and an outlet face; (b) a plurality ofinlet openings in said inlet face, each said inlet opening shaped toprevent entry of objects which have a predetermined cross-sectionaldiameter; (c) a plurality of outlet openings in said outlet face; and(d) a plurality of individual channels extending through said elongatedbody, each channel having an axial length of approximately sixteeninches and connecting one of said inlet openings in said inlet face withan outlet opening in said outlet face.
 24. A safety fitting as definedin claim 23 wherein said inlet face is substantially hemispherical. 25.A safety fitting as defined in claim 23 including at least oneopen-faced transverse groove extending between and connecting the inletopenings of at least two of said channels.
 26. A safety fitting asdefined in claim 25 wherein said open-faced groove extends to theperiphery of said inlet face.
 27. A safety fitting as defined in claim23 having at least one open-faced groove in said inlet face whichextends from the inlet opening of at least one of said channels to theperiphery of said inlet face.
 28. A safety fitting as defined in claim23 wherein said inlet face defines a contoured surface.